Early Chevy tilt steering column

Don Nolen · #1 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007, 08:08 AM

Anybody using a chevy steering column in there car having problems with the ignition key lock in the column? Hard to turn, won't disengage the starter,etc..

vettestr · #2 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007, 09:31 AM

Hey Don,
I think I can shed a little light on your trouble. Lets break it up into 3 possible areas, mechanical Switch in column, The electrical switch located near firewall moved by rod from key sw., lastly any wiring issue after the electrical sw.
Start at the electrical switch on exterior of column by using 5/16 wrench to loosen 2 screws holding in place. You remove rod from key sw. and test if it now moves easy and clean. Replace key sw if rough or replace elect sw if it is rough and there is an 1/8 hole in sw. and column to put drill bit in to align new sw in position. If they check out it might be a hanging starter or starter solenoid but that is easy to test too.
If key sw is bad pay attention to disassembly of wheel and parts to get to it for replacement and note what hole the lever and star wheel were in before taking it apart so you do not have to start from scratch. It is pretty easy all in all. Jeff c

Double Venom · #3 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007, 10:06 AM

Don,
Jeff has just about covered it all but, after using many,many of this type of column I'd bet you will find it in the ignition switsh itself. It is not releasing fully, keeping or kicking the start mode in. Solution; pull the wheel, now the problem is getting the anti-theft-locking plate loose. Look carefully at the very top of this ring, on the shaft, you will / should see a "snap ring" holding it in place. Now you are entitled to cuss and bleed, remove the snap ring releasing the plate.
Now you can see a single small screw/allen bolt actually holding the lock in place, remove this screw and the lock will slip out. Make a trip to Autozone/NAPA, what ever, you can buy a complete ignition switch and key. Reverse your work and you are ready to go... A little white grease in the switch wil go a long long way!
Good luck, we'll await to hear back for you venture! On a scale of 1-10 the job is about a 2.
Ed/DV Combs

Double Venom · #4 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007, 04:15 PM

You wouldn't believe it if I told you! Please disregard this jumble.
Ed/DV

vettestr · #5 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007, 04:45 PM

Ed,
Now you have my curiosity peaked and am betting there is a good story here we are not getting. Come clean....... what's the real deal. I will believe ya !

Double Venom · #6 (**permalink**) 08-08-2007, 06:50 AM

vettestr,

Thank you for believing me; my posts kept disappearing and thinking something was wrong with the system I finally realized it was my computer. My posts were there all along but for some reason they wouldn't show up when I came back to the thread??? That's it.

DON,
One more thing that may, not likely, but may cause a "hang-up" in your ignition is the "rack & gear" in the COLUMN (NOT the steering). As you turn the key in the ignition, the ignition moves a nylon round gear on a galvanized track pushing the rod to the ignition switch. A little white spray grease down the "tube" almost always fixes this problem. Not likely your problem but if the ignition switch proves out, check this little gear and rack.

Ed/DV